AUSSIE EMD C501

[@OfficialSEIC2K6]

Victorian Railways C Class #C501 preserved and operational over at Seymour Rail Heritage Center. She runs like a dream. They also have two X class locomotives now: #X31 and #X37.

[@JP-ib2iz]

When I commenced back in the late 1970' C class locos were brand new and no hand rails on the external walk around foot plate, I recall as the rest of the fleet were been delivered, could still smell the ew paint on them. C 503 which I was on in a return ex Albury, we derailed at Somerton loop with a full load and as usual, all our VR trains over loaded at least 200 tons+, whole loco off the road heading into No 3 loop tracks, off on the wsr points for 4 track, no handy mobile phones in those days to take photos. 46 years later and ready to retire from driving grade, those engines were run into the ground by the VR, they got more than their money's worth from them. Good to see an excellent restoration and the 'Blue & Gold VR livery, well done thanks for the memories

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Cheers mate! Always a pleasure to hear stories from ex drivers! And positive feedback, although I'm open to any negatives! Haha

[@allanjones4283]

Cheers. As a kid I was in a C Class, multiple A Class and our family has a long VR history. Love these and A Class locos. Brought back memories. Thankyou. Safe driving!!

[@therandomnessofeverythinga7045]

The Mighty C Class in the best livery ever......I remember train spotting these beasts 40 years ago in my teenage years😀😀😀

[@3801john]

Watching this video has me remembering the days the late Les Haining and myself travelled to Serviceton to bring C501 to Melbourne the first day we only went as far as Ararat then next morning we ran to Melbourne . In the cab of course was Les Haining and John Rose (crew) and Les Rolls (assistant chief mechanical engineer) and Ron Sinclair ( Clyde Engineering) So many thanks for letting me remember those magnificent days gone by and making me remember Les one of the most talented Drivers in the VR handle C501 With such finesse.

[@andrewmaclean1479]

What a pleasure to sit back and enjoy this majestic Class leader. That unmistakable whine is legendary. Thanks for filming and sharing for us enthusiasts.

[@willynebula6193]

You just can't beat that sound!

[@Railwayman01]

You can with an L Class, which was the ORIGINAL 16/645E3 turbocharged Locomotive on a Govt railway system back in 1967...😊

[@NicholassTrainChannel]

Fantastic video. Nothing beats the sound and power of the mighty C class locomotive.

[@emdsdownunder]

Nice footage mate!!, well done 🇦🇺👍👌😉……..for as many years and companies i have driven this mighty machine, i never get sick of driving, seeing or hearing C501 roaring around the countryside 💪🇦🇺

[@interceptor7905]

You can still hear the good old Hustler speedo!The best thing!

[@RichardFelstead1949]

Thanks for sharing. Brought back memories from when I was on temp transfer at Wodonga in early 70's.

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Awesome mate! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gregmichael8473]

Thanks for the video and to SRHC for their efforts. Best looking (only in Blue & Gold though), best sounding loco in Australia. I remember back in their heyday running on the bg out of Melbourne, a pair of C class notching up leaving Sunshine. The physical sensation of the sound impacting me was amazing.

[@canismajoris738]

Great to get a cab ride from my desk and see the scenery and Loco yard.

[@canismajoris738]

Great for the cab/desk chair ride and where was C509 going to?

[@rivervalley664]

Hi Adam, awesome cab ride in class leader C501, one of the best looking loco's still around. Many thanks and stay safe, cheers Lee.

[@thebops4180]

You are at the controls of the best looking loco in Australia. What an honor :) Pity we didn't hear her notch up from 1 to 8 :( Otherwise AWESOME . . .

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

When it leads the train I'll have 2 cameras to set up.

[@wanderingwes64]

5.54 hard left hand side used to stand at grandparents house a long time ago and watch the all the freight and passenger trains go through including the southern aurora, great video

[@TweezersUnlimited]

This makes an American very happy. And I'm getting more used to seeing similar locomotives over here. Canadian Widecabs have been on the rise, which of course also use that EMD hood layout. Anyways, top quality production!

[@benchurchill1939]

I saw this diesel as a youngster back in 1980's in Adelaide. Was a rare sight in SA.

[@Dream_M1]

Awesome video. Thanks 👍

[@MrThuggery]

Crewed that Loco many times including sitting on the turntable at Dynon as a fireman cleaning the windows with jax and our sweaty! (Cloth) then rubbing them down with newspaper.

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Haha that's the way! We still do that sometimes! Good times!

[@EAFSQ9]

Gotta love that 645E3 kickin up into each throttle notch up. A real classic. Thanks mate. Edit: Poor bird at 6:03 got clipped oooof

[@cameronmoore72]

Another great video, thanks for sharing. I’ve been in the same department for 32 years and I’d leave it in a heartbeat to do what you’re doing. Great stuff.

[@robbiewales3007]

Excellent video, thank you for sharing. I might be getting closer to my 40 but I can remember seeing the mighty C classes including C501 run freight trains quite regularly between Melbourne and Sydney up until the NR classes were introduced. The C's often lead G's, 81's, 80's and 422's on container trains. Unfortunately I never got to see C classes run on the broad gauge which is a massive pity

[@gerardcottingham5225]

C class brings back memories of working in the canal yard on a Sunday and the jets used to come down through the bogie exchange and arrive in the canal where we used to spkit them up and place the TNT in their siding for Monday morning

[@jameswardell1028]

Big George. Love that turbo whine. Probably a different story if in the cab for hours on end!

[@produKtNZ]

Nothing beats a good old power move 😍

[@macka8884]

I can't thank you enough for this video mate. How can you even call it a "job" or "work" when you get to be at the helm of 501. Best one yet mate! Keep them coming legend! 👌

[@dirtydogg06]

Mate I seriously enjoyed watching this, relaxing actually. Keep up with these vids, very interesting to see a totally different type of work to what I am currently doing!

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Absolutely, I have one being edited now you might like, has a bit of everything.

[@philcampbell3104]

Brilliant Adam. Thanks for sharing.

[@hemiatehuia]

Totally loved this video Adam, you rock mate 👍

[@petermiller9712]

awesome locomotive the C class Nothing better.

[@davidhale7551]

Another fantastic video, thankyou

[@vernonmatthews181]

Thanks for the scenic view of the Victorian interior, pure bliss ! Regards Vernon. ( Hamilton, New Zealand )

[@tomharrington1393]

Heck of a ride along🚂🚂🚂

[@RYNT1157]

Great video , they sound the same as our 071 class ( 645 E3 12 cyl 2,475 HP ) and the familiar ticking from the Hasler Speedo with the wind up clock !

[@slepper98]

Good clip, thanks for sharing.

[@smartliving4464]

Wow, thanks for the great video, really enjoyed watching it 👍👍

[@warrenjohnknight.9831]

Absolutely amazing locomotive especially well restored, is that track apart of the restoration, but definitely seems to be a very well used and great condition, ☺.

[@johnd8892]

Thought the C class was from outer space when I first heard them on Melbourne yard hump duties, of all places, in 1978 on a quiet Sunday.

[@jordankeeps]

If you type in will James, go to his latest video. And skip to I think 31:50, you see you driving past him. Witch is in this video. Fantastic vid mate. Really loving these. We need more uploads and longer vids hahaha.

[@standardaussie]

My uncle David not long ago retired from roughly this patch, he drove V-line freight from around Dimboola both ways but mainly to Melbourne and occasionally further. Always kind of admired the job, little kid big trains what can I say🤷‍♂️. He used to have a trains deisel engine piston and rod as an ash tray out back, I remember thinking that I could probably fit my head in the cylinder it was that big. I was young and to me it was huge. Cool video, shame about the poor little bird though 😬

[@DKS225]

100% Loved it right down to the horn.

[@BardzAu]

Great vid! Thanks for sharing 👌

[@thelastname2k]

I'd love to have a drive of the old girl, you're lucky

[@PillSharks]

Noticed the Indian pacific and the Ghan engines at the end… I went on the Indian Pacific back in 2000s backpacking, what a journey that was!

[@noelroberts8199]

Nice to see the Indian Pacific and The Ghan locos in the workshops after probably pulling freight and in between passenger duties........

[@RailwaysOfDoom]

Great coverage there!

[@maxxfx4767]

Bloody beauty mate! Would love to get behind the stick one day! Bit more grunt and character than my E.M.U.s!

[@CooperWhitehead-p1t]

I am curious I can hear a ticking sound in the cab videos. Can anyone fill me in what that is please?

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

That's the hassler speedo, driven mechanically from an axle.

[@JohnGeary12453]

Great video mate

[@waynepelling5568]

Thanks atd.Happy new year .great clip

[@stanleyj.mitchell4851]

Thank you. Wondered what the track from Jacana to Tottenham looked like.

[@johnfarnell219]

Nice one much pleasure .cheers

[@Gus1966-c9o]

What brilliant video

[@robertcameron3455]

A nice little video

[@patkelly6349]

Best locomotive of all time

[@inncogneato6341]

Very nice thank you.

[@geoffdavison9931]

Great video thanks

[@standardaussie]

7:15 Is that really the bend still going on the bridge with a final kick to straighten up a little after the transition from grade rail to bridge rail? 😲😬 That looks sketchy as frig! I hope the navvy's made a real solid transition! Does ya butt still pucker going past this ?

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Haha it's pretty high but I have some faith in the infrastructure though.

[@northseabrent]

That video was cooler than the cold side of my pillow.

[@paulcoffey359]

Went the long way around!

[@Cammo-vp1gl]

C class, my favourite of all locos! On another note, the graffiti around our city and the western suburbs is disgraceful, it really makes the place look dirty and shitty. Thanks for the video 👍🏻

[@traincrazy6662]

6:02 OH NO that poor bird, Dan we get a f in chat for the bird

[@gregthompson3274]

Great video,felt like l was on the train 👍

[@SheltonDCruz]

Thanks!

[@giddy1337]

So good! 10/10

[@letsnotargue]

@ about 6.03 a bird strike maybe ?? Great videos too always enjoy

[@Mr_Nanks]

What’s the ringing bell sounds at the 2:39 mark? Vigilance ?

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Vigilance

[@R00RAL]

Much rain over there ? I'm Western Australia Mid West, dry as dry here. Occasional thunderstorm nothing to speak of. But well aware of the East West Main Line Cut atm due to weather.

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Yeha it's been pretty wet here and feral and humid on hot days!

[@WAlocoGallery]

Good grain harvest over here though. Been 2 trains a day running out of Geraldton loading grain up at a couple of the major silos. Will be going for many months.

[@australiantrains8988]

Cannot beat the old VR colour scheme. What are those two tubes coming out of the panel at the front of the cab inside? Juice Boost? Good one Adam.

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Haha nah that's for the air con that was removed for repair.

[@australiantrains8988]

@@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER Great time to extract the aircon in the peak of summer, especially with no "change over" unit available.

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Agree! Was less than ideal but it's not a lead unit till it's fixed.

[@johnforster5312]

So turns out every train is like every prime mover: there's always a Black Ice air freshener hanging in the cab somewhere 🤣

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Haha yes!

[@mattk183]

Going on C501 to Ararat with the SHRC

[@wendymcfadyen-allerby6142]

Enjoyed tyvm :)

[@kendale2847]

A beauty what a ride. What speed did loco reach.

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

It's capable of 115kmh, but often runs at 80kmh

[@chrisholmes6311]

Great video. I miss these VR locos. Was that a bird strike at 6:02?

[@NoBody-ht1oh]

The best looking 81,G,BL made 🤣

[@JTRAIN]

And VL

[@dannysydo2026]

Thanks for sharing it is a great insight into your job as a train driver. How do you cope driving this locomotive with long end leading?

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

It takes alot more knowledge of the track ahead and reliability on your work mate to inform you of what you can't see.

[@aleu650]

Very interesting video. Apparently there is a part 10:14 where two different gauges coexist (dual-gauge in one track) Would these be 1.4 and 1.6m?

[@pvda64]

C501 is Standard Gauge while the V/Line network in Victoria is the wider Broad Gauge.

[@aleu650]

@@pvda64 Thanks for the reply

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Yes 4ft 8.5" & 5ft 3"

[@aleu650]

@@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER 👍

[@Zonda1996]

what sort of career training do you need to do to operate one of these? C class has always been my favourite in the history of Victorian rolling stock.

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

It's takes a few years to get from off the street to qualified, there's alot to learn. Each loco and train is different, each route has its own challenges, then there's train issues and emergency training, dangerous goods, learning the rolling stock, it can depend on the routes and how often you travel over them too as to how fart you pick it up and learn it. Yes the Cs are a good unit!

[@Zonda1996]

@@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER Good to know. There’s a decent amount of qualifications/training I’ve found online but more interested in the classic EMD units over modern stuff. V/Line’s careers page seems to only show stuff that’d lead to operating the V/Locity locomotives 🤢

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

@@Zonda1996 yeah vline locos are on their last legs with passenger trains. Freight and heritage will be the only operators using diesel locos soon. It can be a hard job to get into. Most railways use EMD's or GE's with Cummins and MTU slowly creeping in due to overseas emissions standards.

[@Seiskid]

Is that a hot plate and an a grill in the centre console?

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Sure is.

[@keystonedriving8180]

So is this effectively an SD40 with a wide cab or does it have the dash 2 upgrades?

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

it's the same as the original SD40 from what I'm lead to believe, the electrical gear and engine was sent from the usa, but the rest was built in Australia by Clyde Engineering.

[@kleetus92]

What is that clicking noise?

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Speedo

[@tld8102]

it looks like the engine is running on standard gauge? aren’t all victorian locomotives broad gauge?

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

We have SG also but it limited.

[@wertpollwert]

What's the deal with those two extra seats at the back?

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Trainee, trainer, shunter if need be.

[@losi5ivet29cc]

So it's basically the Australian equivalent to an SD40-2w???

[@chrisrabbitt]

Not quite mate, its the Aussie version of a SD40w built here for the Victorian Railways. The West Australians also had SD40s as well which have been since sold on to a couple different railroads and rebuilt to dash 2 equivalent

[@losi5ivet29cc]

@@chrisrabbitt yes that's what I was trying to get at. I live in Canada and CN has SD40-2Ws they were the only railroad to receive them they also have the GP38-2W and GP40-2W/ L and they have the C44-9WL they were special built for CN and use the same cabs the W stands for wide cab better known as the Canadian comfort cab which has 4 windows but CN still refers to them as SD40-2 etc though. CN also has the C44-9W in which early versions feature a teardrop style windshield similar to what's found on SD60Ms and SD70s CN resorted back to the standard square windshields found on pretty much all GE locomotives with later builds of their C44-9Ws. Another Canadian railroad also had SD40-2Fs which featured a similar cab to the SD40-2W etc but instead of open catwalks down the sides of the long hood they were completely enclosed and were called cowl hoods but earned the nickname barn doors a couple other examples of cowl hood locomotives all built just for CN or CP were the GE C40-8M the SD50F and the SD60F.

[@cyneater6300]

Is that an electric stove at the front?

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Sure is

[@Chris75572]

@@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER You get that but there is no toilet in there. Odd.

[@johnparker7874]

What gauge? Standard or broad.

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Standard

[@Minnesota_Rails]

Is this narrow gauge?

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Broad, 5' 3"

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Sorry it standard now, 😂😂😂 how silly of Me. 4ft 8.5"

[@Minnesota_Rails]

😂

[@jesstill7833]

I have watched this few times and more I see it I like it more great Video Bonza mate 🦘🦘🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Cheers for that Jess! 🍻🍻🍻

[@rodorodo3060]

HI MATE!! Great loco, it was made in Australia?? Which gauge 1600 or 1435?? All the best for you and Australia!! Regands from Buenos Aires, Argentina.-

[@chrisrabbitt]

Hey mate, yeah the class are Aussie built versions of the American EMD SD40 with a safety cab and a few modifications for it to fit our loading gauge. There are also the West Australian L class which are a Aussie built spartan cab SD40 and all run on standard gauge track.

[@rodorodo3060]

@@chrisrabbitt Ok. Mate!! Thank you for your answer, I have another question for you, sorry!! How do you call in English the track/ place to change of direction of a loco?? Turntable is Rigth??

[@chrisrabbitt]

@@rodorodo3060 your welcome mate and yes in English we call it a turntable although it can also be done on a triangle ( a set of points/switches that form a triangle shape) or what the Americans call a wye

[@rodorodo3060]

@@chrisrabbitt Mate, you are very kind, thanks!! So turntable is rigth, and I forgot it, the "triangle" yes, is used to change the direction of a loco too, I think we had the same teachers... (British). Perhaps in a near future I going 'ah bother you for more railways vocabulary in English, do you mind?? Thanks again!!

[@chrisrabbitt]

@@rodorodo3060 your welcome mate and no I don't mind at all, ask anything you like and I will try to answer

[@TheAussieFloof]

From never driven a train before to where you are now... what does it take? It's my dream job but not knowing where to start is holding me back and I can't really find answers. Where I live in regional western Vic there are no depots, only an old line that isn't used all that often anymore.e

[@AwesomeAngryBiker]

Just sit back relax enjoy the video and wait for all the armchair KZbin expert's and train drivers to start their bragging and showing off. Pity they can't just watch the video

[@jesstill7833]

👍👍👍👍👍💪💪💪💪💪😀😁😎

[@johnbrendon6225]

Great to see pity Western Australia didn’t have a descant rail system so out dated it’s a joke all want put on roads one can only imagine what the road system will be like after all this years grain has to go by road and nearly every siding has a railway line going through it and now local government is bragging about what a great job its doing on repairs to the road system when it’s only a Band-Aid solution govt listen to many idiots that don’t know swot .the company that handles the grain freight are already advising for more truck and drivers to be able shit the grain when one train could shift as much approx forty trucks. It’s a joke.

[@WAlocoGallery]

The line's are not too bad out of the Midwest (Geraldton). Plenty of grain going by rail at the moment with 2 sets.

[@louiskats5116]

Goodday Adam, What a cracker of a video. Without a shadow of a doubt C501 Big George Is the best looking, meanest sounding, son of a gun locomotive in Australia & I will challenge anyone who is prepared to come up with a loco as well deserving of that title. Those black number board just make Big George look meaner than mean. Whilst working at Qube I had the pleasure of fueling up Big George & sneak a ride up the other end of the siding with he who can't be named. According to the same individual who has piloted Big George on plenty of occasions he calls Sir Big George a weapon a fu--en weapon because supposedly it isn't speed limited & pulls unbelievable hard & can get up to speed quickly & pull to 125 kph without an issue. Just last month Sir Big George was layed over at the end of Emerald Grain near the railway crossing. Grabbed a couple of pictures but the amount of people who pulled up with there children to take photos & put there kids on the running boards as a photo opportunity was unreal. It proved to me the hold & popularity Sir Big George has on us Gunzels. Great video especially running through Sunshine. You wouldn't believe it but there was once a railway station there at Sunshine & the Sydney bound & Sydney to Melbourne passenger trains would stop ever morning & evening. Just abit of history. Thank you for showing Sir Big C501 George Cheers Louis 👍

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Very interesting indeed! Thanks as always for a cool comment. I don't doubt it would get to 125kmh if pushed.